EMD GA18

3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)Driver dia.32 in (813 mm)Wheelbase5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) (Each truck)Length38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)Width9 ft 8+3⁄4 in (2.97 m)Height12 ft 2+11⁄16 in (3.73 m)Axle load13.5TLoco weight108,000 lb (48,990 kg) (54T)Prime moverGM 8-645EEngine typeV8 2-stroke dieselAspirationRoots blowerTraction motorsTwo D75MC DCCylinders8Loco brakeStraight airTrain brakesAir(Taiwan, Chile), Vacuum (Zambia) schedule 26-LA

Performance figures
Maximum speed	45 mph (72 km/h)
Power output	1,000 hp (750 kW)

Career
Locale	Taiwan (5), Chile (1), Zambia (1)
Disposition	Most scrapped, in Taiwan one preserved plus at least one additional awaiting restoration

The EMD GA18 was an export locomotive built by GM-EMD in 1969. The GA18 was a derivative of the EMD G18 and was designed as an extremely light locomotive with low axle loading which used freight car trucks driven by cardan shafts and two traction motors attached to the underframe. It is the successor model of the EMD GA8. They are powered by an EMD 8-645E prime mover rated at 1100 bhp and 1000 hp for traction.^[1][2] Only seven units were built.^[3]

Original Owners

Chile

• 1 FCAB 953

Taiwan

• 5 Taiwan Railway Administration S401-S405

Zambia

• 1 Nchanga Consol Copper 10

Taiwan Railway Administration

Taiwan Railway Administration purchased five GA18 locomotives in 1969^[1] which were equipped with special cab signal display and track sorting devices for use as Qidu hump yard switching locomotives. They were named the S400 series by the TRA. In addition to yard switching, the TRA S400 series GA18's were also used to pull short run commuter trains.^[4] After the closing of Qidu hump yard, the S400 series were used as general road switchers until their retirement. All have been scrapped with the exception of S405 which has been preserved and restored in its original Navy blue paint scheme and is currently on display in Miaoli Railway Museum, and S402 which is currently stored in a half-dismantled state in Taipei Railway Workshop to await preservation following the workshop's transition to a railway museum.

Gallery

References